Construction for third-rail electric railways.



wimeoam No: 664,470. Patented D80. 25, I900.

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CONSTRUCTION FOR THIRD BAIL ELECTRIC RAILWAYS. (Application filed Sept. 29, 1900.)

(No Model.)

ummij "III Illll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM COURTENAY, OF NE YORK, N. Y.

CONSTRUCTION FOR THIRD-RAIL ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 664,470, dated December 25, 1900. Application filed September 2 9, 1900. Serial No. 31,550. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

7 Be it known that I, WILLIAM COURTENAY, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Road-Bed Construction for Third-Rail Electric Railways, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to road-bed construction for third-rail railways. i

The object of the invention is to produce an insulating-support and fastening devices by which the third or conductor rail of an electric railway may be strongly and safely supported.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the insulator and clamps, as applied to a tie, with the insulator in position to form a seat for a third rail, and showing also general position of rail in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a plan showing railbase dotted, and Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the insulator and clamps. Fig. 4 is a perspective of one of the rail clampsor hooks slightly modified. Fig. 5 is a perspective of one of the insulator clamps or anchors.

The insulator A is-a generally rectangular block of non-conducting material. I prefer what is known as artificial or reconstructed granite, although glass, porcelain, or other electrical non-conductor may be employed.

The insulator is integral, having a rectangular base portion A and a drip or overhang A projecting slightly over the base, so that water which-may accumulate on the insulator may fall from the overhang and not make a film over the entire insulator or any face thereof. The sides are shown as sloping upward under the overhang. The top A is flat and parallel with the bottom of the block.

The rectangular base of block A is held to the tie or sleeper B by two corner clamps or anchors 0. Each of these anchors has a flange O, which projects past the corner and along the end of the insulator, while the main body 0 of the anchor bears against the side of the insulator, being inclined to bear against the block and so hold it down. The bottom or floor of the anchor is held to the tie or sleeper by a bolt, screw, or spike D, which passes through a hole 0 in the anchor and into or through the tie or sleeper. Two anchors arranged, as shown, at diagonally opposite corners of the insulator serve to hold the same firmly, acting as braces in all lateral directions and overhanging the inclined base of the block and being also under the overhang of the block.

The insulator A is perforated, as indicated in dotted lines, in a direction parallel with the axis of the rail which is to rest on said insulator. Two clamp-hooks E E are held to the insulator-block by bolt F, which passes through holes in the two clamp-hooks andthrough the insulator. The bolt F hasa nut G thereon and Washers are used when desirable. The toe E of the hook extends above the rail-base, as indicated.

As the third rail may be of various forms and sizes, although T -rail is usually preferred, the hooks E will generally conform to the character of the rail. The hooks E may have elongated holes E through which the bolt F passes, and by means of such elongation the hook-plates E may be held by bolts F in such adjusted position as to clasp any of the usual sizes of rail-base. For unusual forms of rail'the form of the toe E of the hook may be changed to correspond. The bolt F will have washers and lock-nuts when needed.

Where it is desirable that the rail shall be supported above the insulator A, the edge of the hook E may be carried above the side of theinsulator, as indicated at E Fig. 5. Then the rails will rest on the flanges E which in turn will rest on the top of the insulator, the

hooks or clamps 0 being held firmly to the insulator-block in any position to which they may have been adjusted by the tightening of the bolt which passes through both hooks and the block.

While the hooks may be tightened on the rail-base by the insertion of wedges, such will generally be unnecessary, as the adjustment of the hooks by means of the bolt F provides for all the usual requirements of adjustment.

What I claim is 1. An insulator-block consisting of an integral generally rectangular piece of non-conducting material having a drip or overhang at the sides, and a perforation in the direction of the axis of the rail.

2. The insulator-block described, consisting of a gene ally r a gular pieceof i slr lating material having fiat top and bottom, side overhang, and a perforation as described.

3. The combination with the insulatorblock, of the two anchors at diagonally opposite corners, each having an abutment to rest against the side of the block, and a flange ektending along the end of the block.

4. The combination with the tie or sleeper and insulator-block, of the two anchors at diagonally opposite corners of the block, each embracing a corner of the block, and each held to the tie or sleeper by a bolt or the like passing through the anchor and into the sleeper or tie.

5. The combination with the insulator-block having upwardly-tapering sides,of the corneranchors each having a socket corresponding to the taper of the block, substantially as de-' scribed;

6. The combination with a perforated insulator-block, and means for securing the same to the tie or sleeper, of a pair of clamp-hooks constructed to lie against the ends of the said block, and a clamping-bolt passing through said hooks and block, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a perforated insulator-block, having an overhang, of a pair of clamp-hooks extending al n 19 ends of the l ck d hoo ing er 'thmil-bflsQ and a bolt extending through the block in the direction of the length of the rail.

tor-block and a toe to project above the railbase, and provided with an elongated perforation for the clamping-bolt, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM .OOURTENAY.

Witnesses:

B RTRA O. SMITH GEORGE L. OOURTENAY. 

